Dear Fellow Underdogs,

So, we both know you’ve been hearing a lot about our school musical recently. You’re probably getting annoyed; I mean, why wouldn’t you? You don’t care about musicals, and you never will.

But what if I told you I could change that for you?

I’ve been involved with musicals my whole life- ranging from children’s stories to murder trials. Fun fact, when I was seven years old, and I auditioned for my first musical (I wanted to be a lost boy in Peter Pan), I didn’t get in. That’s right, little old me wasn’t wanted. But did I give up?

No.

The next few months, I went into total try hard mode. I needed to be in a musical. So, that summer, my mom put me in a theatre summer camp. There, I finally got m

y start as a performer- playing the O.G. left shark in Seussical the Musical.

Ever since my shining moment on stage, I’ve been involved with at least one musical every year. Overall, I’ve been in 20+ musicals.

Okay, I get it. I’m a little musical crazy, and not everyone gets this into theatre.

You most likely won’t, but that’s no reason to not give it a try. Musicals are a surreal experience like no other; especially ours.

In case you didn’t know, Knoch won five Mancini Awards (basically the Tony’s for high schoolers) for last year’s performance of Chicago. These ranged from “Best Lighting” to “Best Actress” (Jordan Luntz). Really, we killed it.

I don’t know if you’ve ever won a team award, but being a part of a winning team is one of the best feelings in the world. Knowing that you were included in something so amazing that people you’ll never meet give you an award is such an indescribable experience.

And that’s not even the best part!

The school musical is basically an excuse to hang out with your closest friends nonstop for three months. Every practice is filled with laughs and great memories.

Stop giving me that skeptical look.

Okay fine, yes, musical is a lot of work. Just listen though; it’s amazing.

I really mean it- a lot of my favorite high school memories come from musical practice.

For example, one Saturday rehearsal, Addy Albert (the female lead this year) wasn’t there. I’m a student director, so one of my jobs is walking in her place, reading her lines. We got to her first song, and since I have the dancing skills of a white dad at a barbeque, I figured I’d just sit it out. Brecken Ferrel (her partner in that song), had a different idea. He proceeded to drag me across the stage, while attempting to sing “Young and Healthy” to me-which is a love song… how awkward is that!

At first, I was stunned, embarrassed, and cringing at myself. But then I realized, everyone was laughing, so why shouldn’t I? Now, I tell everyone the story, and desperately wish someone would have videotaped it.

You’re convinced to join now, right?

No!?

Oh, I know why you’re still hesitant- you heard me say Saturday rehearsals.

Potentially, Saturday rehearsals could be the worst, but in reality, they’re one of my favorite things about musical.

Sure, waking up early to run around for six hours isn’t something I’d usually volunteer to do on a Saturday, but something about doing it all for musical cancels it out. I think it’s because all of your hard work turns into an amazing performance in the long run.

I promise you, it’s worth it. So, if you don’t wanna spend the awkward time between Christmas and spring break next year doing nothing, I highly suggest joining musical.

Especially if you’re a dude. We really need dudes.

Gotta Blast,

Your Local Student Director